Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-05-14
ON A MOUNTAIN LEDGE.

swung lazily in the hammock on the wide verandah.
 "Who is itP' she asked in Spanish.
 "Pablor' came in the same low whisper.
 "Good Pablo come here"
 A tall negro, showing in the slightly coppery hue of the skin the mixture of Indian blood, stole cautiously across the open space between the house and the thick bushes, and almost crawling, reached the place where his young mis- tress was.
 "Wen. Pablo, what news?" eagerly demanded the young girl.
 'All lost, senorItal All lostl"
 "And Don Enriquep"
 Out in de bush dar, hidin' n de canes"
 '.But why don't he come inP What does he want to stay there for?"
 ''Indians chasin' of him-de Canca- nos," answered the peon gravely.
 "Whatr
 "Yes, senorita. Fo' for days now. And Don Enrique he say mus get t mountains now, quick"
 What does he want?"
 "Want some money, an some food, an some clothes, senorita."
 The young girl hesitated a moment, and then said, sharply:
 Pablo, go to Don Enrique, and tell him to go to the old hut down in the swamp. I'll be there in half an hour"
 As the peon turned to execute the or der, the girl ran into the house. and once more silence fell upon the place. The revolution, one of those unsuccess- ful revolutions of which the history of Columbia is full, was just over, and Don Enrique Gonzales found himself on the losing side.
 Under ordinary circumstances he might have surrendered; but when he heard that the dreaded Indians of the great Canca Valley had been placed upon his track, he knew there was noth- ing to 60 but to fly. For these men are noted in the northern part of South America for the fact that they never give or take quarter. They are like hu- man bloodhounds; their one idea is to kill. Don Enrique had good reason to make most of his time with the Canca- nos after him.
 Down in the cane swamp stood an old palm house, the sides made of up- right sticks split from the black palm, and lashed to cross-pieces, and the roof heavily matched. Here, sitting on a log in the shadow, was Don Enrique, a | young fellow about twetnty-seven, while lying on the ground was the peon, Pablo.
 Suddenly the Peon raised hls head.
 ''Somethin' comin', senor!' The two listened for a minute, and then through the only path to the hut came large mule, saddlcd and bridled followed by another one, upon which was the senorita.
 Don Enrique had the girl in his arms almost before the animal stopped nov ing, and the whispered words of en- dearment the rapturous kisses and looks which the two gave each other, old the old, old story plainly.
 'But, dearest, why have you got your habit?" be asked at last.
 Because-because- Oh 'Rique, you must let me go with you!' she said, trembling as she spoke.
 Impossible! You do not know what this trip means"
 "But I mustl Today" she went on, with blush, would have been our wedding, and 1 cannot-I cannot-let you go alone!'
 Tn great perpIexity. Don Enrique looked at peon for advice
 Pablo had served his father as well as himself. and Pablo's forefathers had served the house, first as slaves. and then as freemen, ever since the first Gonzales had settled in the valley. In reply to the look, the peon gave a grunt
 "But-but, Mercedes" said the young man, turning to her, ''how could you cross the mountainsP"
 Pablo can carry me-can you not, Pablop'
 "Yes, senorita," the peon answered.
 ''Very well, " he answered in a re- signed tone. But we've got to start now. Come on, Pablo"
 Placing the girl on her mule again, Don Enrique mounted his. and, led by the peon, the party made their way out of the cane into the main road. Once on this, they pushed ahead rapidly, Pablo keeping up without the slightest difficulty.
 The road, which at first was good, gradually got wilder and rougher, un- til, as they went up the mountains, the MulSS WOluu SlOD anu DdHG every HOW and then before beginning one of the frightful climbs, during which they had to almost spring from rock to rock. Still up, and up, the mules climbed, urged on as much as possible by their riders.
 Suddenly Pablo, who had been look ing back, said
 Look, senor."
 And Don Enrique. turning, saw fal below a string of what seemed like lit tie brown boys, carrying long sticks, crossing an open space.
 Eight, nine, ten," he counted, in a tone of some bitterness. 'Well, if we must fight, we must" he went on, set ting his teeth hard, and mechanically ioosening his revolver. No fight here, senor," said the peon !; earnestly. ''No good here. Up dere, pointing as he spoke to peak about three miles from them. Ali right, Pablo" And once more the mules were urged along by voice and spur. But if the fugitives had seen their pursuers, they had in turn been seen, and the race began between them. The road wal frfphtful